A 1-3 start has put plenty of Cardinals figures in the crosshairs, but not all of them are carrying the same kind of heat.
The loudest frustration in Arizona has landed on Monti Ossenfort. In his fourth season, he still hasn’t built anything close to a playoff contender, and the results under him have been uneven at best.
Coaches have cycled through, franchise players have moved on, and his drafts and free-agent moves have produced a heavy mix of hits and misses. Even with Jonathan Gannon surprisingly shown the door this offseason, Ossenfort stayed in place.
That decision has not bought him much comfort. Injuries have slowed the team again, but the Cardinals also left key spots at edge rusher and right tackle untouched, and those holes are still staring everyone in the face after four games.
If the season doesn’t swing around over the final three quarters, bringing him back for a fifth year would be a tough sell to the fan base.
Brissett also finds himself under the microscope, though for different reasons. Arizona spent the summer in a lengthy contract fight with him before finally landing on a number.
He got the last starter’s payday he wanted, and the Cardinals got a veteran quarterback to guide LaFleur’s offense without upsetting the room. But the fit has been messy so far.
Brissett has checked the ball down a lot, hasn’t generated the explosive plays the offense needs, and the time lost in his holdout clearly hurt his timing and feel for the system. He has not been the biggest reason for the Cardinals’ struggles, but he also hasn’t shown he can lift the offense to another level.
With losses piling up, he’s getting closer to losing the job.
Defensive coordinator Nick Rallis is in an even shakier spot. His leash entering 2026 was already short, and the Cardinals had to interview multiple defensive coordinators before landing on him for a fourth season.
Any hope that the defense would look different without Gannon’s fingerprints on it has faded quickly. Arizona has given up 30+ points in three straight games, still can’t get after the passer, and continues to have trouble taking away an opponent’s top receiving threat.
Veteran defensive coach Teryl Austin is already looming as a possible replacement, and if the turnaround doesn’t come soon, Rallis’ exit feels more like when than if.
Mike LaFleur, by contrast, is nowhere near the same kind of pressure. The rookie head coach has had his issues, especially on offense, where Arizona has struggled to create consistent explosive plays or solve what defenses are throwing at them.
The defense remains a problem too, even if that side isn’t directly under his control. Still, it’s only been four games.
The offense has moved the ball, and the Cardinals have been a play or two away from being 3-1. There’s real upside in what LaFleur can become as a play-caller once continuity and experience start to settle in.
For now, his seat is not warm.
In Other News...
Marvin Harrison Jr. Just Became A Real Cardinals Deadline Story
Marvin Harrison Jr. has only just started to settle into his place in Arizona, but his name is already surfacing in deadline chatter as the NFL moves closer to the next round of roster maneuvering. ESPNs Josh Weinfuss and Stephen Holder reported that the Indianapolis Colts are among the teams doing due diligence on the Cardinals wideout, a reminder that even a former No. 4 overall pick can become part of the leagues wider trade conversation before his rookie chapter has fully unfolded.
For Arizona, the important part is what is not happening right now. The Cardinals are not shopping Harrison, and he has said he is focused on helping the team win rather than tracking rumors around him. Still, the fact that another team would be willing to explore the idea if he somehow became available is enough to make this worth watching as the deadline picture sharpens around a player who has already appeared in four games this season. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Already Lost One Starter As Lions Injury Picture Shifts
The Cardinals have already had to adjust for their Week 5 matchup with the Lions, ruling out starting safety Andrew Wingard for Sundays game. Its a significant early-week hit for Arizona, especially with Detroit bringing plenty of physicality and motion stress into the matchup, but the rest of the injury report offered a few reasons for optimism as the week moved along.
Head coach Mike LaFleur said running back Jeremiyah Love and defensive lineman Walter Nolen III are trending in the right direction, while also noting that tight end Hunter Longs injury is not season-ending. Outside linebacker Jordan Burch is expected to be available, so Arizonas picture is a lot clearer than it could have been, even if the biggest uncertainty from the week still hangs over how much depth the Cardinals will have where they need it most. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Face One Clear Challenge In A Winnable Lions Test
The Cardinals enter this matchup with a real opening against Detroit, but the path to taking advantage of it starts up front. Arizona has been leaning on the passing game, with Trey McBride and Marvin Harrison Jr. giving the offense reliable ways to stress a defense, and this is the kind of opponent that can be attacked if the protection holds together. The Lions have not looked sturdy on that side of the ball, which is why this game has the feel of one Arizona should be able to keep within reach.
The issue for Arizona is whether the offensive line can survive long enough to let the rest of the plan work. Injuries have thinned the group to the point where the Cardinals are asking for new answers in a spot where continuity usually matters most, and that makes the matchup feel a little less comfortable than the records suggest. If the line can hold, the Cardinals have a chance to turn a winnable test into a useful early-season statement. [Read more 🡒]